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Fox News Calls Out Paul Ryan For Wanting Family Time While Blocking Paid Family Leave

What you’re about to read may surprise you so much that it might be wise if you go ahead and sit down now. Are you sitting? Comfy? Then I’ll continue.

Earlier today on Fox News Sunday, host John Roberts actually asked a serious and quite pointed question of the newly-minted Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan. Specifically, on the issue of paid leave for families, Roberts said:

“There are many people in this country that would like to see you make your priority legislation that gives people the backing of the federal government so that they can have time with their family.”

Currently, the Family Medical Leave Act protects workers’ jobs for up to 12 weeks if they are forced to take time off for family illness or the birth of a child, but those who take time off must do so minus their pay. Republicans have repeatedly blocked President Obama’s efforts to ensure that workers can take paid leave.

Ryan, true to his GOP roots, did not disappoint with his response to the query from Roberts:

“I don’t think people asked me to be Speaker to so that I can take more money from hardworking taxpayers to create some new federal entitlement. But I think people want to have members of Congress who represent them, that are like them.”

“Don’t you want your member of Congress to be a citizen legislator who lives with you among you, who has your own kinds of concerns, who wants to spend time with his children on Saturdays and Sundays? I’m going to keep living in Janesville, Wisconsin where I’m from, where I raise my family. I’m going to keep going back and forth to D.C.”

Ryan also noted that he would reserve two days of each week for his family, which, it should be noted, he will be paid for. Yet to do so for all Americans is not in the cards? WTF?!

“If you’re asking me, because I want to spend — I want to continue being the best dad and husband and Speaker I can be, getting that work-life balance correct means I should sign up for new unfunded entitlement, that doesn’t make any sense.”

OK then, Mr. Speaker, so would you mind if we dock your salary for those two days a week you won’t be available to perform the duties we pay you to do? I didn’t think so.